The increase, which is in line with the market expectation, was mainly due to a 27 percent growth in total income while costs edged up moderately by 6 percent.

The total income of HK$2,312 million (US$296.4 million) came mainly from the buoyant cash market in 2000. Average daily turnover of the cash market registered a growth of 63 percent mainly on account of the bullish sentiment in early 2000, the robust US stock markets and the resumption of economic growth in Hong Kong.

HKEx, the marketplace for stocks and futures in the city, began trading on the stock exchange of Hong Kong on June 27, 2000.

(People’s Daily 03/14/2001)